Handheld electronic device including auto completion of punctuation in numerical entry, and associated method

ABSTRACT

The disclosed and claimed concept describes a handheld electronic device that has the capability to automatically prefer a preferred punctuation arrangement in response to determining whether a first output has a predetermined characteristic.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/558,622,filed Nov. 10, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to handheldelectronic devices and, more particularly, to a method of enabling inputon a handheld electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld devices include, for instance, personal data assistants(PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and thelike. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wirelesscommunication capability, although many such handheld devices arestand-alone devices that are functional without communication with otherdevices.

Users of handheld electronic devices can often find themselves enteringa large amount of data, such as numerical data, into their handheldelectronic devices. In order to ease the load on the user and toincrease the amount of data that the user can enter into the handheldelectronic device, some handheld electronic devices (hereinafter,referred to as traditional handheld electronic devices) allow the userto enter a punctuation, such as a period, simply by actuating a singleinput member, such as the <SPACE> key, a number of times. For example,the handheld electronic device can be programmed to output a period upondetecting two successive actuations (i.e., a double actuation) of the<SPACE> key. In some instances, however, the output that is generated inresponse to the double actuation of the <SPACE> key actually increasesthe load on the user because the user may have to take correctivemeasures prior to entering more data into the handheld electronicdevice. Therefore, it would be desirable to overcome this shortcoming inan efficient fashion that makes the handheld electronic device easier touse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can be gainedfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an improved handheldelectronic device in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the handheld electronic device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an output that can be generated on the improved handheldelectronic device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4, 4A, and 4B depict other outputs that can be generated on theimproved handheld electronic device;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of an improved method inaccordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting another embodiment of an improved methodin accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting yet another embodiment of an improvedmethod in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept.

DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the phrase “a number of” or variations thereof means oneor an integer greater than one.

As used herein, the phrase “digit” or variations thereof shall include,without limitation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, and combinationsthereof.

As used herein, the phrase “alphanumeric” or variations thereof shallbroadly refer to a letter, such as a Latin letter, and/or a digit.

As used herein, the phrase “currency symbol” or variations thereof shallbroadly refer to a symbol that denotes a monetary value such as, withoutlimitation, $,

and other such symbols.

As used herein, the phrase “European” shall refer broadly to a locationon or near the European continent that, in a numerical context, utilizesa comma as a decimal symbol in place of a period. For example, thecountry implements the convention wherein 1.00 is written as 1,00 (i.e.,the comma replaces the decimal point).

As used herein, the phrase “actual geographic location of use” orvariations thereof shall broadly refer to the current geographiclocation that the handheld electronic device 2 is currently disposed in.The geographic location of the handheld electronic device can bedetermined by a variety of ways including, but not limited to,triangulation using a number of cellular towers to which the handheldelectronic device is electronically connected to or through a GlobalPositioning System (GPS).

As used herein, the phrase “selected geographic location of use” orvariations thereof shall broadly refer to a geographic location of thehandheld electronic device as selected by the user of the handheldelectronic device from among a plurality of selectable geographiclocations. For example, the user could select that the handheldelectronic device is in Spain despite the fact that the actualgeographic location of the handheld electronic device is in Germany.

As used herein, the phrase “operative language” or variations thereofshall broadly refer to the language that the handheld electronic deviceis currently operating in.

As used herein, the phrase “non-English language convention” shall referbroadly to a language that, in a numerical context, utilizes a comma asa decimal symbol in place of a period. For example, the country'slanguage implements the convention wherein 1.00 is written as 1,00(i.e., the comma replaces the decimal point).

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, upper, lower,left, right, vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, above, beneath,clockwise, counterclockwise and derivatives thereof, relate to theorientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limitingupon the claims unless expressly recited therein.

One embodiment of a handheld electronic device 2 is depicted generallyin FIG. 1. The handheld electronic device of FIG. 1 is depictedschematically in FIG. 2. The handheld electronic device 2 includes ahousing 4 upon which are disposed a processor unit that includes aninput apparatus 6, an output apparatus 8, a processor 10, a memory 12,and a wireless transceiver 13. The processor 10 may be, for instance,and without limitation, a microprocessor (μP) and is responsive toinputs from the input apparatus 6 and provides output signals to theoutput apparatus 8. The processor 10 also interfaces with the memory 12which, as will be discussed in greater detail below, contains one ormore routines. The processor 10 and the memory 12 together form aprocessor apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the input apparatus 6 includes a keypad 14 and anavigational input 16. The keypad 14 is in the exemplary form of areduced QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of keys 18 that serve asinput members. For instance, the keypad 14 includes an <ALT> key 20, an<ENTER> key 22, and a <SPACE> key 23. It is noted, however, that thekeypad 14 may be of other configurations, such as an AZERTY keyboard, aQWERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard or another keyboard arrangement,whether presently known or unknown.

The keys 18 are located on a front face 24 of the housing 4, and thenavigational input 16, which is a trackball 36, is disposed on the frontface 24 of the housing 4. The trackball 36 is rotatable in variousdirections thereby allowing for the navigation of the cursor 32, whichis displayed on the output apparatus 8, in various directions includingup, down, left, right, and any combination thereof. Moreover, thetrackball 36 can also be depressed to provide a selection or other inputbased upon the current location of the cursor 32. Accordingly, rotationof the trackball 36 can navigate the cursor 32 over a particular programicon 34, while depression of the trackball 36 can launch the program. Itshould be noted that a trackwheel (not shown), which can be disposed ona side 26 of the housing 4, can be used in lieu of the trackball 36.Similar to the trackball, the trackwheel can serve as input member sincethe trackwheel is capable of being rotated as well as being depressed.Rotation of the trackwheel can provide a navigation or other input,while depression of the trackwheel can provide a selection or otherinput. For example, if a cursor 32 is located over a given program icon34, that program will be launched when the trackwheel is depressed.

Referring to FIG. 2, the memory 12 can be any of a variety of types ofinternal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM,ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like that provide a storage registerfor data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of acomputer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. As can beseen from FIG. 2, the memory 12 is in electronic communication with theprocessor 10. The memory 12 additionally can include one or moreroutines depicted generally with the numeral 38 for the processing ofdata. The routines 38 can be in any of a variety of forms such as,without limitation, software, firmware, and the like.

The output apparatus 8 includes a display 40 upon which can be providedan output 42. An exemplary output 42 is depicted on the display 40 inFIGS. 3, 4, 4A, and 4B. Referring to FIGS. 4, 4A, and 4B, the output 42includes a text component 44 and a variant component 46 which extendssubstantially horizontally across the display 40. This, however, is notmeant to be limiting since the variant component 46 can also extendacross the display 40 substantially vertically or can be otherwisedisposed. Preferably, the variant component 46 is located generally inthe vicinity of the text component 44. The variant component 46 includesa predetermined quantity of selectable outputs from which the user canselect. The variant component 46 includes a selection box 48 thatappears in a default position 50. Initially, the default position 50 ofthe selection box 48 surrounds and/or highlights a preferred output 52(hereinafter, referred to as the preferred punctuation arrangement)while the remainder of the variant component 46 displays variousalternative outputs 54 (hereinafter, referred to as the alternativeselectable punctuation arrangements). The selection box 48 is capable ofbeing moved (i.e., shifted) from the default position 50 to a number ofother positions 56 by depressing or actuating a number of keys 18 or byrotating the navigational input 16. By moving the selection box 48 tosurround and/or highlight the alternative selectable punctuationarrangements 54, the user is able to select any one of the variousselectable punctuation arrangements 54 for possible output on the outputapparatus 8 of the handheld electronic device 2. The display 40 alsoincludes a caret (cursor) 58 that depicts generally where the nextoutput will be displayed.

As stated above, traditional handheld electronic devices includefeatures that allow the user to enter a punctuation, such as a period,when the traditional handheld electronic device detects multipleactuations of a single input member. The period that is generated as aresult of the multiple actuations, however, may also be followed by aspace. While this is beneficial when a user is entering a number ofsentences into the traditional handheld electronic device, this featurecan be problematic if the user is attempting to enter a numeric valueinto the traditional handheld electronic device.

For example, if a user is attempting to enter 1.00 into the traditionalhandheld electronic device, the user would first input the digit “1” byactuating the input member that corresponds to the digit “1”. After the“1” has been entered, the user would then enter the period by actuatingthe <SPACE> key 23 two times. However, as stated above, actuation of the<SPACE> key 23 twice will cause the traditional handheld electronicdevice to enter and generate (output) one or more spaces following thedesired period. Referring to FIG. 3, if the user continued to enter thetwo remaining digits into the traditional handheld electronic device,the ultimate output would be 1._(—)00 (underscore added for emphasis).Accordingly, in order to properly enter 1.00 the user would have toerase the space that was automatically entered after the period prior toentering the first “0” which decreases the user's ability to efficientlyenter data into traditional handheld electronic device.

The disclosed concept enables the handheld electronic device 2 toovercome this shortcoming by having a routine 38 that is adapted incertain circumstances to prefer, as a preferred punctuation arrangement,a period no space following the period) only upon detecting a doubleactuation of an input member, such as the <SPACE> key 23, whichcorresponds to the period. Specifically, the handheld electronic device2 will prefer the preferred punctuation arrangement when the handheldelectronic device 2 determines that the data that was generated(outputted) immediately prior to the double actuation of the <SPACE> key23 has a predetermined characteristic.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the routine 38 will determine whetherdata that was generated (hereinafter, referred to as the first output)immediately prior to the double actuation of the <SPACE> key 23 includesa digit. Referring to FIG. 4, if the handheld electronic device 2 doesdetermine that the first output includes a digit, then the handheldelectronic device 2 will prefer, as the preferred punctuationarrangement 52, a period with no additional spaces thereafter, therebyallowing the user of the handheld electronic device 2 to enteradditional digits without having to take any corrective measures (i.e.,erasing the space that would normally follow the period).

In addition to preferring the preferred punctuation arrangement 52, thehandheld electronic device 2 can also generate a number of alternativeselectable punctuation arrangements 54 on the output apparatus 8 of thehandheld electronic device 2. Specifically, the preferred punctuationarrangement 52, as well as the alternative selectable punctuationarrangement(s) 54, will be displayed in the variant component 46 on thedisplay 40. The selectable punctuation arrangements 54 can be selectedand entered into the handheld electronic device 2 by actuation and/ordepression of the navigational input 16 or, alternatively, by actuationof a number of keys 18. Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment thealternative selectable punctuation arrangement 54 is a period with aspace thereafter. It should be noted that in FIGS. 4, 4A, and 4B, thespace is represented by an underscore. If the alternative selectablepunctuation arrangement 54 is selected by the user, then the selectedpunctuation arrangement 54 will be entered into the handheld electronicdevice 2 and output on the display 40 as a part of the text component 44in lieu of the preferred punctuation arrangement 52. For example,continuing with FIG. 4, if the user would like to override the preferredpunctuation arrangement 52, which is a period with no additional spacethereafter, and enter the alternative selectable punctuation arrangement54, which is a period with a space thereafter, then the user wouldnavigate to the alternative selectable punctuation arrangement 54 andselect it by utilizing the navigational input 16 and/or a number of keys18. In response to the selection, the handheld electronic device 2 willthen enter the alternative selectable punctuation arrangement 54.

Moreover, in certain circumstances the routine 38 is further adapted toprefer, as the preferred punctuation format 52, a comma, which is usefulin situations where a comma is used as the decimal symbol in place ofthe period. For instance, in English the quantity one (1.00) can bewritten with a period between the “1” and the first “0” while in Spanishthe quantity one (1,00) can be written with a comma between the “1” andthe first “0”. This capability is accomplished by having the routine 38,determine whether the selected or actual geographic location of use ofthe handheld electronic device 2 is European after detecting the doubleactuation of the <SPACE> key 23. Referring to FIG. 4A, if it isdetermined that the selected or actual geographic location of use isEuropean and that the first output includes a digit, then the handheldelectronic device 2, upon detecting the double actuation of the <SPACE>key 23, will prefer as the preferred punctuation format 52 a commafollowed by no space while generating as the alternative selectablepunctuation arrangements 54 a period followed by no space and a periodfollowed by a space.

Alternatively, the routine 38 can also be adapted to determine whetherthe currently selected operative language on the handheld electronicdevice 2 is a non-English language convention and, responsive to thedetermination, the routine 38 will automatically output a comma as thepreferred punctuation arrangement 52 upon detecting the double actuationof the <SPACE> key 23 as well as determining that the first outputincludes a digit.

In another embodiment, the routine 38 will prefer, as the preferredpunctuation arrangement 52, a period or a comma with no space thereafteronly if the routine 38 determines that an initial output comprises acurrency symbol and that the first output comprises a digit.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in another embodiment, the handheld electronicdevice 2 can prefer, as the preferred punctuation arrangement 52, aperiod with no space thereafter while generating as the alternativeselectable punctuation arrangements 54 the following: (1) a period witha space thereafter, and (2) a comma with no space thereafter. It shouldbe noted, however, that in some instances the user might not want thehandheld electronic device 2 to generate, as an alternative selectablepunctuation arrangement 54, the comma with no space thereafter.Accordingly, the user could instruct the handheld electronic device 2 toonly output, as the alternative selectable punctuation arrangement, theperiod with a space thereafter in response to the detecting the doubleactuation of the <SPACE> key 23.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of the disclosed concept.As can be seen from this figure, the handheld electronic device 2 willdetect an input at step 100. The handheld electronic device 2 will thendetermine whether the detected input was an alphanumeric input at step102. If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that thedetected input was an alphanumeric input, then the handheld electronicdevice 2 will output the alphanumeric input at step 104. After thehandheld electronic device 2 has outputted the alphanumeric input, thehandheld electronic device will return to step 100.

The handheld electronic device 2 can then detect another input at step100. After detecting the input, the handheld electronic device willdetermine whether the detected input was an alphanumeric input at step102. If the handheld electronic device 2 determines that the detectedinput was not an alphanumeric input, then the handheld electronic devicewill determine whether the detected input was a punctuation input atstep 106. If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that thedetected input was a punctuation input, then the handheld electronicdevice 2 will determine whether the alphanumeric input comprised a digitat step 108. If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that thealphanumeric input comprised a digit, then the handheld electronicdevice will output the preferred punctuation arrangement, which is aperiod followed by no space thereafter, at step 110. Otherwise, thehandheld electronic device 2 will output the default punctuationarrangement, which is typically a period followed by a space, at step112.

Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device 2 determines, at step106, that the detected input was not a punctuation input, then thehandheld electronic device 2 will take some other action including, butnot limited to, determining whether the detected input was a selectioninput at step 114.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting another embodiment of the disclosedconcept. Steps 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 212, and 216 correspond to steps100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, and 114 in FIG. 5, respectively.Accordingly, the description of steps 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, and114 in the preceding paragraphs will also apply to their counterparts inFIG. 6. In this embodiment, the handheld electronic device 2 willdetermine whether the selected or actual geographic location of use isEuropean and/or the operative language of the handheld electronic device2 is a non-English convention at step 210. If the handheld electronicdevice 2 does determine that the selected or actual geographic locationof use is European and/or the operative language of the handheldelectronic device 2 is a non-English convention, then the handheldelectronic device 2 will output the preferred punctuation arrangement,which is a comma followed by no space thereafter, at step 214.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting yet another embodiment of the disclosedconcept. Steps 300, 306, 308, 310, 316, 318, and 320 correspond to steps100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 112, and 114 of FIG. 5, respectively.Accordingly, the description of steps 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112,and 114 will also apply to their counterparts in FIG. 7. In thisparticular embodiment, the handheld electronic device 2 will determinewhether the detected input was a currency symbol input (initial input)at step 302. If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that thedetected input was a currency symbol input, then the handheld electronicdevice will output the currency symbol at step 304. Moreover, thehandheld electronic device 2 will not only determine, at step 314,whether the alphanumeric input comprises a digit, but the handheldelectronic device 2 will also determine whether a currency symbol hasbeen input into the handheld electronic device 2. It should be notedthat steps 302, 304, and 314 (with step 314 replacing step 208) can alsobe included in the embodiment that is depicted in FIG. 6 as well.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed and claimed concept havebeen described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that various modifications and alternatives to those details couldbe developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed andclaimed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claimsappended and any and all equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of enabling input on a handheldelectronic device, said handheld electronic device including an inputapparatus and an output apparatus, said input apparatus having aplurality of input keys, said method comprising: detecting as analphanumeric input a first number of input key selections; detecting asa punctuation input a second number of input key selections, wherein thepunctuation input generates a punctuation mark different from the secondnumber of input key selections; determining whether said alphanumericinput comprises a numerical value; responsive to said determination thatsaid alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value, selecting as apreferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuationarrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements thatcorrespond with said punctuation input, wherein the preferredpunctuation arrangement includes the numerical value adjacent thepunctuation mark; and outputting said punctuation input in accordancewith said predetermined punctuation arrangement.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, further comprising identifying as said preferred punctuationarrangement a decimal symbol.
 3. The method according to claim 2,further comprising outputting a period as the decimal symbol.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising detecting at least oneof a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographiclocation of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifyingas said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising identifying as said preferredpunctuation arrangement a period followed by at least a first space. 6.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior to detectingsaid alphanumeric input, detecting as an initial input a selection of anumber of input keys; responsive to said detecting an initial input,generating an initial output; and making as a portion of saiddetermination, a determination that said initial output comprises acurrency symbol.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:detecting an operative language on said handheld electronic device; andmaking another determination that said operative language is anon-English convention.
 8. The method according to claim 7, furthercomprising responsive to said making another determination, identifyingas said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising making as said anotherdetermination a determination that said operative language is Spanish.10. A handheld electronic device, comprising: a keyboard having aplurality of input keys; a display; a processor apparatus comprising aprocessor and a memory in electronic communication with one another,said processor apparatus having stored therein a number of routineswhich, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronicdevice to perform operations comprising: detecting as an alphanumericinput a first number of input key selections; detecting as a punctuationinput a second number of second input key selections, wherein thepunctuation input generates a punctuation mark different from the secondnumber of input key selections; determining whether said alphanumericinput comprises a numerical value; responsive to said determination thatsaid alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value, selecting as apreferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuationarrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements thatcorrespond with said punctuation input, wherein the preferredpunctuation arrangement includes the numerical value adjacent thepunctuation mark; and outputting said punctuation input in accordancewith said predetermined punctuation arrangement.
 11. The handheldelectronic device according to claim 10, wherein said preferredpunctuation arrangement is a decimal symbol.
 12. The handheld electronicdevice according to claim 10, wherein said preferred punctuationarrangement is a period.
 13. The handheld electronic device according toclaim 10, wherein said number of routines cause the handheld electronicdevice to perform operations further comprising detecting at least oneof a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographiclocation of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifyingas said preferred punctuation a comma.
 14. The handheld electronicdevice according to claim 10, wherein said preferred punctuationarrangement comprises a period followed by at least a first space. 15.The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein saidnumber of routines causes the handheld electronic device to performoperations further comprising: prior to detecting said alphanumericinput, detecting as an initial input a selection of a number of inputkeys; responsive to said detecting as an initial input, generating aninitial output; and making as a portion of said determination, adetermination that said initial output comprises a currency symbol. 16.The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein saidnumber of routines causes the handheld electronic device to performoperations further comprising: detecting an operative language on saidhandheld electronic device; and making another determination that saidoperative language is a non-English convention.
 17. The handheldelectronic device according to claim 16, wherein said preferredpunctuation arrangement is a comma.
 18. The handheld electronic deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein said operative language is Spanish.